are contended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are contended" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would typically be "are contending" or "are contested," depending on the intended meaning. Example: "The two teams are contending for the championship title this season."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The titles for the fastest, biggest, and longest coaster are contended for every year, with the latest crop of coasters trying to best the extremes of the previous record holders, often at increasing cost.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Phylogenetic relationships among cetacean taxa are contended at many different levels.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Bears are contending for nothing but improvement.

The New York Times - Sports

Both teams have been battered by injuries, but the Yankees are contending despite their recent struggles.

The New York Times - Sports

Meanwhile, police officers are contending with scattered cases of fuel theft from filling stations.

The New York Times

Democrats are contending with a complex set of circumstances and emotions.

The New York Times

The parks and the Smithsonian are contending with a 5 percent cut.

The New York Times

Other developers are contending for the same location, and no decision has been made.

The New York Times

In the discipline of international relations there are contending general theories or theoretical perspectives.

SEP

Here, we define network load in terms of the number of nodes that are contending for the access medium.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Inaccessible polling places isn't the only issue Woodward and Ne'eman are contending with.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "are contended" in your writing. Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "are contesting", "are disputing", or "are debating" to convey your intended meaning accurately.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "are contended" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "the titles are contended for", use "teams contend for the titles" to make the sentence more direct and clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are contended" functions as a passive construction of the verb "contend". However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it is not grammatically correct in standard written English. A more appropriate form would be "are contending" or "are contested", depending on the intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "are contended" might seem like a valid passive construction, Ludwig AI reveals that it's not grammatically correct in standard English. The intended meaning usually revolves around concepts of dispute, competition, or active striving, but using alternatives like "are contesting" or "are debated" ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy. The few examples found come from diverse sources including encyclopedias, science, and news outlets, indicating its potential (though incorrect) use in relatively formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are contested

Replaces "contended" with "contested", implying a dispute or challenge rather than a striving.

are disputed

Substitutes "contended" with "disputed", focusing on disagreement or doubt about something.

are debated

Replaces "contended" with "debated", highlighting a formal discussion of opposing arguments.

are challenged

Substitutes "contended" with "challenged", suggesting a questioning of validity or strength.

are vying

Emphasizes the competitive aspect, suggesting a struggle for superiority.

are competing

Highlights the act of actively competing or striving against others.

are grappling

Replaces "contended" with "grappling", suggesting a struggle to overcome a challenge.

are struggling

Highlights the difficulty and effort involved in dealing with something.

are dealing with

Focuses on the act of managing or handling a difficult situation.

are facing

Implies encountering and confronting a particular situation or problem.

FAQs

What does "are contended" mean?

While grammatically incorrect, "are contended" might be intended to convey that something is being actively disputed, argued over, or striven for. However, it is best to use alternatives like "are contested" or "are disputed" for clarity.

How can I use "are contended" correctly?

It's generally advisable to avoid this phrase. If you mean to say something is being actively fought for, use "are vying". If you mean something is being argued over, use "are debated".

What is a better alternative to "are contended"?

Depending on the context, better alternatives include "are competing", "are disputing", or "are challenging". The most appropriate choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "are contended" ever considered correct in English?

No, "are contended" is generally not considered correct in standard English. It's better to use a more standard construction, such as "are contending" to describe an ongoing struggle or "are contested" to indicate something is disputed.